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24 April 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Saleem Badat
Prof Saleem Badat, Research Professor in the UFS Department of History, who has initiated an exciting research project to produce a critical institutional history of the UFS.

The Department of History at the University of the Free State (UFS) has initiated an exciting research project to produce a critical institutional history of the UFS. The initiative is part of a wider national project, the Research Project on the Histories of Universities (RPHUSA) in South Africa. Prof Saleem Badat is leading this undertaking, which involves several other universities.

According to Prof Badat, the aim of the UFS project is to produce a volume on the overall history of the UFS and possible additional volumes on specific themes and issues, depending on the nature and extent of scholarly contributions.

The emphasis of this project will mainly be on critical reflections on

• learning-teaching, research, and community engagement at the UFS; 
• the history of disciplines or fields or departments, centres, and institutes;
• governance, leadership and management, and finances; 
• student politics and unionism; 
• work on issues such as the UFS’ location, architecture, and planning; and

• its crest, regalia, and visual imagery. 

“The Department of History hopes that the project will stimulate broad participation,” says Prof Badat.

He invites current and former UFS scholars, students, support staff, and alumni to contribute to research, writing, publishing, and related activities. To discuss the history project, the Department of History will convene a seminar:

Date: Monday, 6 May 2024
Time: 14:00

Venue: Flippie Groenewoud Building (FGG), Room 202

Please confirm attendance with Nicole Masalla.

After the seminar there will be an opportunity for potential contributors to participate in a workshop to consider the nature, extent, and range of possible contributions and to develop protocols, time frames, and timelines for research, writing, and publishing. 

News Archive

Kovsies ready for national "sêr" competition
2010-09-02

The Veritas men show their talent during our campus’s recent sêr competition.
Photo: Provided

A group of talented Kovsies, each with a smile, are busy packing their cases. After winning our annual “sêr” competition, the “sêr” groups of the Sonnedou and Veritas Residences are getting ready to represent the University of the Free State (UFS) at the National “Sêr” Competition, which is taking place at Stellenbosch University (US) this year.

After months of intensive rehearsals, tension and excitement, the two city hostels are getting ready to compete against other South African universities for the trophies for the best women’s and men’s “sêr” group.

This competition, which is taking place on 4 September, is a major event on the cultural calendar. Although our representatives are from city residences, they have worked as hard, if not harder, than the resident students.

Sonnedou also participated last year, when the competition took place at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The group then came second and they are ready to bring home the first prize this year. Their repertoire include, amongst others, “Nkosi Sikeleli i'Afrika” and “Kinders van die Wind” by Koos du Plessis.

According to Herman Naudé, head student of Veritas and second tenor in the “sêr” group, the group is very excited about their participation in the competition. With songs like “Lief vir alles hier” by André Schwarts and “Sweet child O’ mine” by the group Guns ‘n Roses, they plan to fulfil the expectations of their fans and the adjudicators. “I really think we have a good chance to win this year,” says Herman. –Lize du Plessis

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